If you're looking for a great amusement park to enjoy with the WHOLE family this summer, then look no further than an hour north to Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pa.
For those of you unfamiliar with Knoebels, I really wasn't kidding when I said the whole family can enjoy it - because admission (and parking) is FREE! For the second straight year, that's how we spent Mother's Day. All four grandparents, plus a favorite aunt and uncle, came along to witness the smiles and laughs first-hand.
Instead of admission at the gate for each person, you either purchase a pay-one-price handstamp to ride for the day, or just get a book of tickets (which Weis Markets sells discount vouchers for) that way if Grandma and Grandpa want to just ride the train (like my parents), they aren't spending $30 or $40 for one ride!
If you have really mini macaronis, their children's area of the park is fantastic! They have several traditional umbrella rides, boats and firetrucks with bells to ring, a Kiddie Whip, helicopters, kiddie bumper cars, a frog hopper and a really fun clubhouse/playground for them to run off some extra energy. My kids (age 4 and 2) giggled the most on the Kiddie Whip, while all of the adults laughed watching my son attempt to drive his own bumper car!
The big event for us this year was that my son was tall enough (42 inches) to ride The Phoenix, the park's wooden roller coaster, which is traditionally rated among the best in the country each year. He loved it so much that he rode it twice, along with The Twister, which was a little more intense and jostling than The Phoenix, especially for a little one.
If you have an older more adventurous macaroni, or if you've got a passion for amusement parks, Knoebels has plenty of rides that will drop or spin you until you can't take it anymore. Besides the wooden coasters, there's salt-and-pepper shakers, paratroopers, a claw ride, and one of my all-time favorites, The Cosmotron - an indoor ride where you sit in small cars and circle the room to music and strobe lights.
Also, one of the newest rides is Black Diamond, which is a three-story ride through a haunted coal mine. The wait when we went was almost an hour, so with two little kids, we opted to skip this attraction. My brother and his wife went through and said while it was a good ride, it wasn't worth that long of a wait.
The Haunted Mansion and the Grand Carousel are two more award-winning rides. Getting an outer horse and being able to grab the brass rings is a memory that will last forever! My mom's favorite and the way we end every visit with a ride on the Pioneer Train through the woods to see the squirrels eating corn and hear all the kids yell through the tunnel.
If it's a hot day, hit the log flume or the Skloosh to cool off. Or head over and take a swim in the Crystal Pool (separate admission charge).
Along with the rides and the pool, Knoebels has mini golf right in the park ($4.50 per round), and nearby campgrounds if you want to extend your visit.
Oh, and the FOOD!! No matter what you choose to eat, it will be amazing as Knoebels has won oodles of awards for its park food. From pizza to fresh cut fries, waffles with ice cream, the list is endless. Want to pack your own lunch? No problem, they have free picnic facilities!
My kids are already asking when we can go back to Knoebels again and the truth is, I can't wait for that return trip either! If you're planning a trip, like them on facebook for the latest scoop on admission plans and prices.
Tell us, have you been to Knoebels? What ride does your family love best and which food is your must have?
Disclosure: The opinions expressed here are my own. My family paid for our admission and did not receive any compensation from Knoebels.
